BusinessDay’s Head of Audience Engagement, Mr Chisom Michael, has been recognised as one of the top 10 emerging professionals of the year in tech.

He received the honour at the 2025 TIBA Conference, themed: ‘Thriving in Business and Career Through Innovation and Resilience.’

The event formed part of The Iconic Brand Africa’s growing movement around professional development, career advancement and personal growth.

Chisom works across data, storytelling, and communication strategy at BusinessDay Media, supporting newsroom decisions and audience engagement.

He is also Communication and Storytelling Lead at the BusinessDay Foundation and contributes reports, profiles, and features to BD Weekender. His educational background includes an MEng from Liaoning University of Technology in China and a BSc from Imo State University.

Speaking on the development, Chisom said: This recognition encourages me to keep building, keep learning, and keep serving. I see it as a reminder that the work matters. This means a lot to me because it reflects years of work that often stayed behind the scenes. I am grateful to everyone who trusted my journey and helped me grow.”

TIBA Founder, Omobabinrin Adeola Osideko, told participants that the platform’s journey came from “persistence, learning, and growth.”

She recalled that a new board encouraged her to expand the work beyond a single award ceremony. She said the present board played a key role in shaping what she describes as “The Iconic Brand Africa.”

Osideko addressed challenges she faced during her work, including criticism, conflict, and the pressure to seek approval. She urged the audience to focus on respect rather than acceptance, saying: “Do not seek to be liked; seek to be respected.”